Our History began in 1873

Baker Woodwork, historically speaking…

Captain David Baker was a ship’s captain during his younger years in the early 1800’s in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After he retired, he steered his focus to inventing. In 1873, he founded the Baker Compass Company. Employing his sons alongside him, they began manufacturing ship compasses. He held many patents, some of which contain improvements found in modern oil-filled compasses today. Compasses were personal instruments belonging not to the ship itself, but to each captain. Captains were hired as sub-contractors on a per-voyage basis to sail vessels to and from domestic and exotic ports mostly in the trade industry. A captain’s compass was the most important tool a captain could own. Without it, he was lost.

Each compass made by the Baker Compass Company was housed in a beautiful mahogany box with solid brass fittings and dovetailed joints, thus, one could say, Captain David was not only in the compass business but also in the fine woodworking business. His products were exquisitely well-crafted and quickly became sought-after instruments of their time. The company continued into the 20th century and eventually sold to a larger compass company. Many of the compasses made by David Baker still exist today. They are fine examples of master craftsmanship, both in the brass-works and woodwork. 

Future generations of David’s family were also entrepreneurs including his sons, grandsons, great-grandsons and great-great grandsons. Since 1996, Paul Baker has carried his great-great grandfather’s entrepreneurial torch forward into the present day. Evidence of Baker Woodwork craftsmanship can be found around the globe in hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars, spas and business establishments. Although the product has changed over the years, Baker Woodwork, Inc. is proud to have a heritage reaching back to 1873 building American-made fine wood products.